Abstract

Conservatism in theological belief, moral values and attitudetoward ecclesiastical practices was measured in a sample of5967 ordained and lay Anglicans in the Church of England.Average scores were compared between those who classedthemselves as Anglo-catholic, broad church or evangelical,and by six different age cohorts. Overall, most measures ofconservatism showed decline among more recent cohorts,but there were marked differences between traditions.Younger evangelicals showed little or no decline in theologicalor moral conservatism, and, in the case of Bible beliefs,were more conservative than their older counterparts. Inecclesiastical variables, however, Anglo-catholics were oftenmore conservative and younger evangelicals showed lessconservatism than other traditions or older evangelicals. Thefindings suggest that the divide between traditions isincreasing among younger generations mainly because thosein Anglo-catholic and broad-church traditions are becomingmore liberal on theological or moral matters, whereasevangelicals are maintaining traditional conservative viewsof theology and morality but becoming less traditional inmatters ecclesiastical.